Must have kitchen gadgets

Hawthorn

A veg steamer with a couple of tiers. I got mine from tesco, the value one, for just over a tenner and it's great. Mine feeds all six of us (and is capable of holding more). Potatoes, and two veg, all done within half an hour, all using the same heat source, and no worries about it boiling dry so you can just let it work.
I'm another one with a food processor, that cost a small fortune, and I haven't used it in months.

A plastic gadget to scrape flour off your worktops when you're done baking. they're only a couple of quid and look like a flexible protractor. Much easier than trying to scrub it off.

ceridwen

Now - I do think an electric steamer is well worth having. Definitely would replace it it if it went on me. Just sitting here now eating veg. that have been steamed in it. I do a lot of my veg. and all of my rice in it. Just set it up and set a kitchen timer to go off when its done and I can forget about it. Comes in very handy chez ceridwen.

There's times when I go off into "absentminded professor" (er....nope I'm not...but when I've gone off into that mindspace you just watch me ruin anything:rolleyes: ) mode and times when I am just plain busy - either way - it helps visibly.

Ellonquine

Many thanks for all your responses.

Thriftlady, thank you for your veg hash idea. Will defo try this as this will save loads of time, I can just grab a bag from the freezer to chuck into a casserole. Especially since my 2 year old wants to help out in the kitchen!!

Have also had a look a look at the meal building blocks which seems like a brilliant idea.

Just need to get myself more organised!
:T

Meadows

Microwave Rice Cooker - a great product that performs, saves time and easy to clean.
(Quickly looking on line I can see one on eBay Item No: 220268297019, this seems expensive so have a look around, I paid about £7-£8 but that was some time ago. There are other types of Microwave rice cooker, don't know how well they work! Also with this type of Rice Cooker all the parts are really strong and sturdy and it is easy to carry especially when full of boiling water or hot rice and has lasted for 10 - 12 years or more, cheaper ones may not be as reliable or safe).

All you do is put in the rice, add boiling water to about an inch above the rice, place in the microwave on high for 12 minutes Basmati White Rice, 22 minutes for Basmati Brown Rice, great fluffy non soggy rice, spot on every time.
The rice cooker also cooks Bulgur Wheat a treat, again not soggy, nice & fluffy.

:j I like this so much and have been using it for many years, I bought my daughter, mother & mother-in-law one, I even have a spare in the attic, just in case this one ever wears out! :dance:

larmy16

Meadows wrote: »

Microwave Rice Cooker - a great product that performs, saves time and easy to clean.
(Quickly looking on line I can see one on eBay Item No: 220268297019, this seems expensive so have a look around, I paid about £7-£8 but that was some time ago. There are other types of Microwave rice cooker, don't know how well they work!)

All you do is put in the rice, add boiling water to about an inch above the rice, place in the microwave on high for 12 minutes white rice, 22 minutes for brown rice, great fluffy non soggy rice, spot on every time.
The rice cooker also cooks Bulgur Wheat a treat, again not soggy, nice & fluffy.

:j I like this so much and have been using it for many years, I bought my daughter, mother & mother-in-law one, I even have a spare in the attic, just in case this one ever wears out! :dance:

I have one of these and was given it by a friend having a clear out! It is brilliant and gets used constantly in our house. It's especially good for rinsing pulses and soaking them too as the grid thingys are tiny and only allow the water to get through.

Funnily enough I have never cooked rice in it so thanks for the instructions! PS How long for the bulgur wheat?? Also is basmati rice 12 mins too?

Meadows

larmy16 wrote: »

I have one of these and was given it by a friend having a clear out! It is brilliant and gets used constantly in our house. It's especially good for rinsing pulses and soaking them too as the grid thingys are tiny and only allow the water to get through.

Funnily enough I have never cooked rice in it so thanks for the instructions! PS How long for the bulgur wheat?? Also is basmati rice 12 mins too?

Hi, sorry yes by white rice I mean Basmati, and I tend to do Bulgur Wheat for about 12 mins (some times I add Quinoa as well), try this recipe to use for lunches etc instead of sandwiches, it keeps for at least three day in the fridge, if it lasts that long!

BULGUR WHEAT

110gms (cooked) Bulgur Wheat (A bit wet following pack instruction, would use less water or cook like rice in microwave rice cooker)
1/2 yellow pepper chopped (or your choice of colour)
2-3 Spring Onions chopped
Small tin of chickpeas (I would actually use a large tin)
Peppered Mackerel, Tuna etc (Your Choice)

Mix ingredients together, toss in fish
Allow the dish to chill for several hours. (Brings out the flavours)

(The bulgur wheat should be dry not wet, like couscous, if not dry (cooked in a pan), put the bulgur wheat in a metal sieve, put a little water in the bottom of the pan, place sieve over the top & heat the water, the steam will dry & separate the wheat).

This is a basic recipe, try adding flavoured oils, vinegars, mixed beans, left over cooked meat, cheese, fruit, nuts etc, whole baby tomatoes, almost anything goes.

Fried Rice

Prawns (Don’t pre cook as prawns if pink are already cooked, if grey they need to be cooked until they turn pink)
Bacon & or Ham
Onions
Peas (Frozen peas are the best)
Mushrooms
Peppers
Soy Sauce
Seasonings
Eggs 1x Omelette
1 x beaten egg
Rice (cooked)
Butter & Oil


Fried Rice takes longer to prepare than to cook the dish. You can use any or all of the above. You can make this dish an all in one meal or serve with chops, chicken, gammon etc.

Pre cook the rice, (rice is always better used reheated especially in this sort of dish, can be cooked the day before. Before use fluff up with a fork. Plain rice or Fried rice is ideal to freeze & re-heats well in a microwave or in a wok (or pan). I always make more than I need so I have some to freeze for a quick meal .

Decide which ingredients you are to use, dice into small pieces.
Pre cook any items that need to be cooked, keep them warm.
Heat the peas through, drain when ready to use.
Make an Omelette and dice.

When ready to make the fried rice, heat some butter in a Wok or large pan, add beaten egg and stir until slightly scrambled but still quite wet, Stir in about half of the rice and quickly mix to allow the egg to coat the rice then add the remaining rice and stir well, you will need to add some oil to the pan, add as necessary to allow ingredients not to dry out or burn. Or reheat the rice, pour beaten egg over it and leave for a minute or so, before stirring in to the rice. (Both methods work well).
Add all the other ingredients to the pan, add any seasoning, soy sauce (basically any thing you feel will enhance the dish, you can change seasonings to suit your tastes).
Stir over a high heat until all the ingredients are thoroughly heated. (If you add more butter to the dish it will help to make the rice crispier).

As with all cooking adapt and season to your taste.

Serve on its own, or with another meat.

You can also do just a Mushroom Fried Rice, use beaten egg, rice & cooked mushrooms. Cook egg as above, add rice & mushrooms add more butter & a little oil until heated thoroughly. Season to taste


(Use butter & oil for cooking, but you do not want the dish to be greasy)

larmy16

Thanks for all that info Meadows. I will print it out. Brilliant!

hilary1

There is a microwave rice/steamer in Morrisons for £3.99 (where the plastic containers are in the home section) which is ideal for rice and rinsing pulses etc.

AND is virtually identical to the Ebay one

xx

Mouse

I got one in Poundland recently so worth a look there.

almar_2

The Nicer dicer has 75% off in Wilkinsons today. £19.99 now £5.00 just grabbed one to chop all my fruit, veg and french fries with.




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